Method of making tacking strip



Filed March 6, v 1947 iii Patented May 27, 1952 Barney Boersma and A.

Rapids, Mich, assignorszto Sackner-Products, Inc., a corporation ofMichigan Application March 6, 1947, ScrialNo. 73259105 This inventionrelates to improvements in a tackingstrip and method of making.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a tacking strip for upholstery and the like which maybe formed of paper and at the same time is effective in retainingupholstery tacks and other fasteners'and'retains its 'bendabilitywithout breaking for a relatively long time.

Second, to provide a tacking strip having these advantages formed ofstrips of paper twisted or entwined together and compressed and havingthe surface thereof impregnated with a microcrystalline wax orother'moisture excluding wax which also serves as' an adhesive for theimpregnated portions of the strip.

Third, to provide a tacking strip which is resistant to water andcleaning compounds thereby preventing deterioration ,of the strip whenexposed to excessive quantities of water and cleaning compounds.

Fourth, to provide a tacking strip which will .retainits shape anddimensions when exposed to excessive quantities of water and cleaningcom- .p'ounds.

Fifth, to provide a "tacking strip which may be easily and economicallymanufactured because the waterproofing treatment may be applied afterthe strip is formed in the usual manner, and there is no change in shapeor dimensionszeffected-by the treatment.

Sixth, to provide a tackingstrip having these advantages which may bevery economicallyproduced and by very practical commercial methods.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined andpointed out in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating one of the stepsin the manufacture of the tacking strip of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view mainly conventionalized illustrating the impregnatingstep of the method.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to thatof Fig. 2 of the completed strip.

In the preferred form of our invention, we form a tacking stripdesignated generally by the numeral I of a plurality of strips 2 ofkraft; paper, these being desirably twisted about a core 3 also 4Claims. (Cl. 57- 165) Arnold Parcels, Grand of twisted kraft paper. Thekraft paper :is crumpledin the twisting asis'indicatedin Fig. 1.The'strips of kraft pa-per are suitably'moistened before twistingtogether and are compressed while containing a substantial amount ofmoistureinto a hard strip asindicated in Fig. 20f appropriate crosssection usually of generally rectangular shape. However, this isvariedboth as to size and as-to'shape for different uses.

One of the extensive uses of tacking strips of this general character isin the affixing'of upholstery to automobile 'seat cushions and backs andpurpose of general illustration, reference may be had to the FallsPatent No. 1,977,051 October6,l93 l, which illustrates a tacking stripas applied to a seat cushionrim, the-upholstery being secured by tacksdriven into'the tacking strip. It should be understood,ihoweventhatourimproved tacking strip is adapted for a wide range of uses other thanfor the seats and :back cushion, as for example, the securing ofupholstery to the interior of a motor vehicle. Varione uses andapplications of these tacking strips require'bendingand there is averypronounced tendency for the tacking strips with which we haveheretofore been familiar, to dry out and break and split when it. isattempted 'to use them in situations where bending is required.

The primary object .of our invention is to provide a tacking strip whichnot only'hassuperior tack holding qualities but which does'not becomebrittle when bending or tend-'tounravel or unwind. We areaware'that.itis old in: the art to twist strips of-p'apertogether and compress andconform to the desired cross section. Our advance in the art consists inthe impregnating of the conformed strip while the strip contains asubstantial amount of moisture with a moisture resisting wax, preferablya micro-crystalline wax which serves as an adhesive to bind the outerportion or the impregnated portion of the paper strips together therebyminimizing the opening up or breaking of the paper strips. This wax alsoseals in the moisture within the strip so that it does not dry out for aconsiderable time and may be bent or flexed.

A further advantage of substantial importance is that the tacking stripis resistant to water and cleaning compounds, thereby preventingdeterioration when the strip is exposed to excessive quantities of waterand cleaning compound. It will be understoodthat water and cleaningcompounds are used to cleanse the unfinished body or work on which thetacking strip has been installed, and it has been rather commonexperithat tacking strips commonly used may absorb sufiicient water orcleaning fluid to result in swelling or serious distortion.

We have illustrated in Fig. 3 in a somewhat conventional manner theimpregnating step which we find practical. As a preliminary step in thetwisting or intertwining of the paper strands 2 they are moistened, thentwisted and then intertwined together by a suitable machine known in theindustry and while still wet, are compressed or compacted into thedesired cross section. It will be understood that the strips arecommercially of different sizes and cross sectional shapes forparticular requirements.

The material is wound into a roll indicated at l in Fig. 3 and this rollis placed in a tank 5 or other suitable container desirably havingheating means, not illustrated, associated therewith, the roll beingsupported in submerged relation to the impregnated micro-crystalline waxas indicated at 6. The wax is heated desirably to at least 212 F.preferably approximately 250 F. but in any event to a temperature whichwill vaporize some of the moisture from the outer portions of the strippermitting the wax to penetrate. We have conventionally illustrated thepenetration of the wax at I in Fig. 4. The depth of penetration may beVaried considerably but it is desired that it should be sufiicient toprovide an effective seal for the moisture within the inner part of thestrip. It is also desired that the sealing wax be of sufficient depth toprovide an effective adhesive for the outer plies or portions of thepaper strips. Moisture resisting wax compositions such, for example, asparamne wax latex mixtures should retain their flexibility forconsiderable periods and may be used with quite satisfactory results butcommercial micro-crystalline wax is at present preferred by us not onlyin that it produces satisfactory results, but that it is available atreasonable prices enabling the economical practice of our invention.

We have not attempted to point out or describe various adaptations whichwe contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making a tacking strip comprising the steps of twistingtogether strips of moistened kraft paper, compressing while moist into arelatively hard strip of uniform cross sectional dimensions, and whilemoist impregnating the outer portion of the strip by submerging inmicro-crystalline wax heated to approximately 250 F. whereby some of themoisture is evaporated from the strip and the penetration of the waxfacilitated.

2. The method of making a tacking strip comprising the steps of twistingtogether strips of moistened paper, compressing while moist into arelatively hard strip, and while moist impregnating the outer portion ofthe strip by submerging in wax heated to a melting temperature therebyresulting in some of the moisture being evaporated from the strip andthe penetration of the wax facilitated.

3. The method of making tacking strips comprising the steps ofinterwrapping strips of paper while moist, compressing while moist toprovide a relatively hard strip adapted to receive and retain upholsterytacks and the like, and impregnating the conformed strip to substantialdepth with micro-crystalline wax while the wax is heated to above 212 F.

4. The method of making tacking strips com prising the steps ofinterwrapping strips of paper while moist, compressing while moist andconforming to provide a relatively hard strip adapted to receive andretain upholdstery tacks and the like, and impregnating the conformedstrip to substantial depth with moisture resisting wax.

BARNEY BOERSMA. A. ARNOLD PARCELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Paper Industry 8: Paper World,Aug. 1943, pp. 526 and 528.

Modern Packaging, vol. 17, Jan. 1944, pp. 47-54 and p. 126.

